Palarong Pambansa 2024: Suspended Mayor Rama checking venues, too

CEBU, Philippines — Even with the assurance of readiness made earlier by Cebu City Acting Mayor Raymond Garcia, Mayor Mike Rama, alongside Acting Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros, is also doing his own rounds of double-checking the billeting quarters and playing venues for the Palarong Pambansa 2024.

The six-month preventive suspension that the Office of the Ombudsman imposed on Rama has not stopped him from doing his own monitoring of the Palaro, he and Hontieros being instrumental in the return of the Palaro back in Cebu City after 30 years.

Rama, in his usual walkthrough, minus the throng of City Hall employees who usually go with him and media, had been hoping from one billeting quarter to the other together with Hontiveros.

The other day, he was seen with Basak Pardo Barangay Captain Dave Tumulak, one of his opponents in the 2022 elections, in checking Don Vicente Rama Memorial High School, again with Hontiveros and with school principal Evelyn Pielago.

Tumulak said, Basak Pardo is charged with taking care of the delegations from Regions I and VII.

In a related development, the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources’ Office has disclosed that Hontiveros has requested the clean-up of the city’s rivers, especially that along the schools in Brgy. Tejero that would serve as billeting quarters of the Region IV-A delegation.

In response CCENRO’s river troopers were dispatched to work double time to clear the river front.

“Such act, accordingly, demonstrated the river troopers' unwavering commitment even with the added time pressure of the upcoming national sporting event, they were determined to uphold their mission of environmental stewardship,” read CCENRO’s post.

Also, City Councilor Jerry Guardo said he is also checking the Cebu City Sports Center as well as nearby billeting quarters and playing venues and schedule the de-clogging of drainage systems in those areas, to prevent flooding incidents.

Meanwhile, following a flooding incident at the newly refurbished Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC), Acting Mayor Raymond Garcia called for immediate action from the concerned city offices, considering that only a few days more and it would be the Palarong Pambansa opening ceremony already.

It was previously reported that a few areas of the CCSC experienced flooding after a heavy downpour last Monday, including at the canteen and the parking area.

He should he would have the CCSC checked as well as the billeting areas, after receiving reports that a few were affected by flooding as well that day.

In particular, he would meet officials of the City’s Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) and the Task Force Gubat sa Baha to discuss possible solutions.

“If there are quick solutions to be able to fix the problem. And then, of course, constant ang pagtutok sa baha nga problem,” Garcia said.

“For this short period of time for the Palaro, we're looking at some concrete steps.  Things like this [flooding] will happen because of the rain but we're looking at some quick fixes nga the games will not be affected, whatsoever,” he added.

In a related development, Cebu City Sports Commission Chairman John Pages said that part of the city’s hosting of the Palaro is securing more sheltered venues than open space venues, considering that it is already the rainy season.

“What’s good is that we tried to have as many indoor games as possible…. Seventy percent of our playing venues are indoor. But then the 30 percent is really out of our control in terms of the rain,” he said.

Pages also cited that two among the four venues for the tennis event for this year’s Palato will be played indoor while the other two is outdoor.

He further said that the City is also preparing contingency plans for the Palaro, including having tennis games in the neighboring city of Naga because it has two indoor tennis courts.

“This was something that we already saw last year for ourselves (in Marikina City)…. Of course, we are praying for good weather next week, but we have to be prepared,” Pages said. — Jon Malaga/RHM (FREEMAN)